The Welsh government has today published its response to an independent review of clinical pharmacy services at NHS hospitals in Wales undertaken by RPS.

Our 110-page review makes 36 recommendations that have been accepted in full by the Welsh Government. These recommendations cover a range of areas. They include patient centred care, prescribing, use of technology, workforce development and leadership.

Within its response, the Welsh Government has outlined 60 strategic actions that it states will provide a blueprint for transforming hospital clinical pharmacy services to meet the ambitions set out in our long term vision for pharmacy in Wales.

Led by RPS Director for Wales, Elen Jones, the work undertaken by RPS has involved more than 1,0000 interactions with the hospital pharmacy workforce in Wales. Input was also provided by the wider NHS workforce, as well as patient groups.

Commenting on the work undertaken and the Welsh Government's response, Elen said:

“I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has accepted our recommendations in full. Like the whole health service, hospital pharmacy is facing significant challenges in delivering urgent, emergency and planned care. However, we’re clear that implementation of our recommendations will empower pharmacy teams to meet these challenges effectively.

“Collectively for pharmacy teams, implementation should lead to greater prominence within NHS boards and trusts with empowerment to take the leader on all aspects of safe and effective use of medicines. While for individual pharmacy professions, implementation will lead to their expert skills and knowledge being recognised and utilised to the full”.

“At RPS Wales, we’d like to thank our project team, the members of our expert Think Tank and the International Federation of Pharmacy (FIP) who were central to shaping this work.

“But most of all we’d like to thank all pharmacy team members across Wales who gave up their time to share their perspectives with us through workshops, surveys and submission of best practice examples. We hope that the final report does justice to your professionalism and commitment and supports hospital pharmacy to be the best that it can be for the benefit of ourselves within pharmacy, and most importantly, our patients.”

Read the RPS review.

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